As the annual Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (UFG) began August 22, South Korean peace activists blamed the twelve-day-long South Korea-US joint military exercise for “triggering a spike in military tension in the region as well as for increasing the risk of war.” They demanded the UFG exercise be stopped immediately.
Gathered near the US embassy in Seoul on Aug 22, these peace activists expressed their concern that the UFG is being played out in the midst of mounting military pressure against North Korea. The large-scale military drill, which is based on a full-scale war simulation, involves more than 4,000 organizations and approximately 480,000 people including civilians. In response to the UFG exercises, Pyongyang has issued a warning for a possible preemptive nuclear strike.
Seung-hyun Cho, one of the peace activists spoke during the rally, said “It’s been known that this year’s war drills include a practice to launch a preemptive strike on North Korea nuclear or missile facilities even at the slightest sign of North Korea’s use of nuclear weapon or WMD. Also the joint forces will run through the newly enhanced “4D” operational plan (detect->disrupt->destroy->defend) which was first employed during the Key Resolve and Foal Eagle exercise last March. "Despite Seoul and Washington's affirmation that the joint military drills are purely defensive in nature, the drills are offensive and provocative," said Mr.Cho.
According to the Republic of Korea and US Combined Forces Command (CFC), about 25,000 US service members participate in the exercise along with 50,000 members of South Korean military. Moreover, nine United Nations Sending States such as Australia, Canada, Colombia, etc. are scheduled to participate.
In a statement, CFC desccribes the annual military drills that "they are designed to enhance Alliance readiness, protect the region and to maintain stability on the Korean peninsula." However, Korean peace activists think otherwise because they regard it as nothing more than a war rehearsal against North Korea.
In a statement, the peace activists denounced UFG for exacerbating military tension and conflict in the region. They criticized the UFG will not only support the US’ interest to build missile defense system through deploying THAAD in South Korea, but it will also serve the interest of Shinzo Abe’s government. Prime Minister Abe has been endeavoring to revise the Japanese Peace Constitution.
Especially, following the Liberal Democratic Party’s landslide victory in the High Councillor election, the upper house in the Japanese Diet, Koreans should pay more attention to Japan’s remilitarization and its intention to reinvade the Korean peninsula. Now the Japanese Self-Defense Forces(SDF) may take advantage of the concept “collective self-defense.” The SDF could bring its foot into the Peninsula as an ally to the US and South Korea in case of a conflict between the US and North Korea.
North Korea, on the other hand, warned from its state media oulet (KCBC) that the U.S. and South Korea should bear in mind that if the CFC show the slightest sign of aggression, North Korea would launch a pre-emptive nuclear strike against the U.S.”
